Book picks similar to
Off to Kindergarten by Tony Johnston


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The Mine-O-Saur


Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen - 2007
    He snatches all the toys, grabs all the snacks, and hoards the blocks. Soon enough, no one wants to play with him. What will it take for the Mine-o-saur to realize that what he really wants are friends? Full color.

The Dot


Peter H. Reynolds - 2003
    Reynolds entices even the stubbornly uncreative among us to make a mark -- and follow where it takes us.Her teacher smiled. "Just make a mark and see where it takes you."Art class is over, but Vashti is sitting glued to her chair in front of a blank piece of paper. The words of her teacher are a gentle invitation to express herself. But Vashti can't draw - she's no artist. To prove her point, Vashti jabs at a blank sheet of paper to make an unremarkable and angry mark. "There!" she says.That one little dot marks the beginning of Vashti's journey of surprise and self-discovery. That special moment is the core of Peter H. Reynolds's delicate fable about the creative spirit in all of us.

Have You Filled A Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids


Carol McCloud - 2006
    Bucket filling and dipping are effective metaphors for understanding the effects of our actions and words on the well being of others and ourselves.

Biscuit Finds a Friend


Alyssa Satin Capucilli - 1997
    Perfect for shared reading with a child, this story teaches a lesson about finding friends while also helping to boost reading fluency.

Miss Nelson Is Missing!


Harry Allard - 1977
    Spitballs stuck to the ceiling. Paper planes whizzing through the air. They were the worst-behaved class in the whole school.So begins this quirky classic, first published in 1977 and still relevant today as a lighthearted reminder to show our appreciation to those we value. The students don’t proffer a shred of respect for their good-natured teacher Miss Nelson, but when the witchy substitute Miss Viola Swamp appears on the scene, they start to regret their own wicked ways. James Marshall’s scritchy, cartoonish full-color ink and wash illustrations are hilarious. A back-to-school perennial!

How Full Is Your Bucket? For Kids


Tom Rath - 2009
    Each of us has an invisible bucket. When our bucket is full, we feel great. When it’s empty, we feel awful. Yet most children (and many adults) don’t realize the importance of having a full bucket throughout the day. In How Full Is Your Bucket? For Kids, Felix begins to see how every interaction in a day either fills or empties his bucket. Felix then realizes that everything he says or does to other people fills or empties their buckets as well. Follow along with Felix as he learns how easy it can be to fill the buckets of his classmates, teachers and family members. Before the day is over, you’ll see how Felix learns to be a great bucket filler, and in the process, discovers that filling someone else’s bucket also fills his own.

Dino Pets Go to School


Lynn Plourde - 2011
    The search for the perfect classroom dinosaur kicks off a prehistoric pet parade . . . and school will never be the same! With bouncy text, strikingly bold illustrations, and a section of fun facts about the amazing Jurassic giants, this perfect read-aloud is as educational as it is silly and satisfying.

Come On, Rain!


Karen Hesse - 1999
    Lyrically written and lovingly illustrated." - School Library Journal "Hesse's language is a quiet, elegant surge.... Muth contributes fine watercolor atmospherics." - Kirkus Reviews

If All the Animals Came Inside


Eric Pinder - 2012
    The dishes would break.Oh, what a terrible mess we would make!If all the animals came inside, bears would run down the stairs, kangaroos would bounce on the couch, and hippos would play hide-and-seek through the halls! Join one family's wild romp as animals of all shapes and sizes burst through the front door and make themselves right at home.Extraordinary collage artwork from beloved illustrator Marc Brown (Arthur series) pairs with Eric Pinder's hilarious rhyming verse to make this the perfect book to read aloud again and again.

Miss Mingo and the First Day of School


Jamie Harper - 2006
    From the enormous Hippo to the teeny Ant, each member of her class is certainly unique. Do you have any idea how long Giraffe's tongue is? Or how much water Pelican's pouch can hold? Visit Miss Mingo's classroom for just one day and meet a delightfully diverse group of students — and discover a world full of wonderful facts!

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom


Bill Martin Jr. - 1989
    "A told b, and b told c, 'I'll meet you at the top of the coconut tree'"--which probably seemed like a good idea until the other 23 members of the gang decided to follow suit. The palm tree standing straight and tall on the first page begins to groan and bend under its alphabetical burden. First the coconuts fall off, then ("Chicka chicka... BOOM! BOOM!") all the letters also end up in a big heap underneath.

You Get What You Get


Julie Gassman - 2012
    He must learn how to deal with disappointment. After all, you get what you get and you don't throw a fit.

The Class


Boni Ashburn - 2016
    Some feel eager, others are nervous, and a few are even grumpy! But they all get dressed, eat breakfast, pack backpacks, and make their way to school, where they will meet their new teacher and become a wonderful new class. Boni Ashburn’s snappy rhyming text and Kimberly Gee’s adorable and diverse group of children make this a great pick for little ones getting ready for their first day of school.

If I Built a Car


Chris Van Dusen - 2005
    . . .Young Jack is giving an eye-opening tour of the car he'd like to build. There's a snack bar, a pool, and even a robot named Robert to act as chauffeur. With Jack's soaring imagination in the driver's seat, we're deep-sea diving one minute and flying high above traffic the next in this whimsical, tantalizing take on the car of the future. Illustrations packed with witty detail, bright colors, and chrome recall the fabulous fifties and an era of classic American automobiles. Infectious rhythm and clever invention make this wonderful read-aloud a launch pad for imaginative fun.

Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcakes


Kimberly Dean - 2016
    But some of the cupcakes have gone missing! Who could have taken them?In this picture book adventure by New York Times bestselling authors James and Kimberly Dean, Pete and the gang solve the mystery of the missing cupcakes and learn that it’s cool to be kind.The Pete the Cat fun never stops—watch the groovin’ video online!